Find your way back to the present moment in this healing afternoon retreat combining the nourishing practice of restorative yoga with the gentle, upright presence of Zen meditation.

With its abundance of heat and light, the summer season encourages us towards action, expansion, and full expression. Mid-summer is the perfect time to take a break from the world of action, curl into the soothing shade, and return to the slow and simple rhythms of the breathing body. Inviting the mind to realign with our present experience of body and breath, we will explore a variety of gentle movement sequences and supported postures to encourage relaxed and supple tissues, effortless breath, awakened spine, and deep rest. From the ground of relaxed body-mind, we will transition into seated meditation practice during the second half of our retreat, learning to use props effectively to support a balanced and vibrant posture. Our retreat will finish with tea and encouragement towards maintaining balance as we return to the full brightness of our daily lives and prepare for the second half of summer.

Erin Merk is a Zen priest and teacher of yoga. She received priest ordination from Eijun Linda Cutts in 2005, and served as “head student” at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center in 2012. Erin first came to San Francisco Zen Center in 1999, following her graduation from Stanford University’s Teacher Education Program. After two weeks as a work study participant at Tassajara, she fell in love with Zen practice and put her teaching career on hold to explore monastic practice.

Erin has lived and practiced at City Center, Tassajara, Green Gulch Farm, and No Abode, spending much of her time chopping vegetables and washing big pots and pans. Since 2006 Erin has been a faculty member at Lick-Wilmerding High School in San Francisco, directing the school’s Body-Mind Education program and teaching yoga, mindfulness, and health classes to teens. A practicing yogini and yoga teacher for many years, Erin recently graduated from the Advanced Studies Program at Yoga Room Berkeley and earned certification as a Relax and Renew™ trainer from Judith Hanson Lasater. She is currently delighted to be exploring Egoscue™ and Yoga with Patricia Sullivan.